Overview

• The Ministry’s expert panel released an interim issues summary on July 8 detailing its basic approach to illegal online casino countermeasures.
• It recommended deferring compulsory connection blocking over concerns that such measures could infringe the constitutionally guaranteed secrecy of communications.
• A four-stage verification process will assess the necessity and societal benefits of blocking, with testing scheduled to start this autumn.
• The panel plans to set clear policy directions on implementing blocking by year-end following thorough legal and technical reviews.
• The Ministry will strengthen non-blocking strategies to reduce online casino use while the phased review is under way.